Ultrasonic watch cleaning method

ABSTRACT

A process for the removal of foreign matter from a watch mechanism, comprising the steps of immersing the watch mechanism in a receptacle containing a solvent of clear petroleum hydrocarbon distillate, an anionic, cationic or non-ionic detergent and anhydrous ammonia, and subjecting the solution and watch mechanism to ultrasonic waves.

United States Patent 1191 Snearly 1 1 Aug. 26, 1975 1 1 ULTRASONIC WATCHCLEANING METHOD [76] Inventor: Grady K. Snearly, 1607 E. Main, El

Dorado, Ark. 71730 [221 Filed: Apr. 9, 1974 [21] App1.No,:459,310

[52] U.S. Cl. 134/1; 134/40; 252/158;

252/162; 252/171; 252/545 [51] Int. Cl. B08b 7/02; 1308b 7/04;C11d 3/022,910,390 10/1959 Gruettncr et a1. 134/1 X 2 911,372 11/1959 Mizell eta1. ,1 252/158 X 3,113.761 12/1963 P1atzman 134/1 X 3,182,668 5/1965Hansel] 134/1 X 3.375.133 3/1968 Scott 134/40 X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,288,245 12/1962 France 252/162 548,960 10/1942 UnitedKingdom.... 134/1 238,707 7/1969 U.S.S.R 252/171 Primary Examiner-BarryS. Richman Attorney, Agent, or FirmGipp1e & Hale 5 7 1 ABSTRACT Aprocess for the removal of foreign matter from a watch mechanism,comprising the steps of immersing the watch mechanism in a receptaclecontaining a solvent of clear petroleum hydrocarbon distillate, ananionic, cationic or non-ionic detergent and anhydrous ammonia, andsubjecting the solution and watch mechanism to ultrasonic waves.

4 Claims, No Drawings ULTRASONIC WATCH CLEANING METHOD BACKGROUND OFINVENTION This invention generally relates to an improved process forcleaning watch mechanisms by immersing the watch mechanism in a roomtemperature cleaning bath which is subjected to ultrasonic waves in aconventional manner, and specifically to compositions used in theprocess which are efficient cleaning agents at ambient temperature.

The types of soils which may be present on the watch mechanism to becleaned fall into three categories, namely, water-soluble, non-aqueousor solvent-soluble and insoluble. The removal of solvent-soluble soilspresents little difficulty, and the quantity of watersoluble soilsgenerally present in soiled watch mechanisms is so small that largequantities of water need not be present. The removal of insoluble soils,however, presents a problem, since their removal is by a method which isbasically mechanical. Mechanical descaling methods in which insolubleoxide scale is removed from ferrous articles by bending, stretching, ortumbling can obviously not be applied to delicate watch mechanisms, norcan chemical descaling treatments using boiling solutions of, forexample, neutral aqueous ammonia salts of strong acids, which areeffective for removing from the surfaces of ferrous articles, scaleresulting from prior heat treatment.

Previously, watches were dissembled part by part before they werecleaned. ln the present invention, one needs to only remove the movementfrom the case and clean it completely assembled. Furthermore, under theold cleaning method, dial finishes would be removed, while under theinventive cleaning method the dial finishes are not harmed.

When the inventive solution and rinse is used, the need to disassemblethe watch movement to oil it is eliminated. The cleaning solution haslubrication mixed into it so that when the watch movement is rinsed anddried it is properly lubricated resulting in a better cleaned watch. Thecleaning operation takes onetwelfth the time that it takes to clean awatch by previous methods.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART It is known that soiled articles may be cleanedby immersing such articles in a cleaning bath and applying ultrasonicwaves to the bath. One such system as disclosed by US. Pat. No.3,405,075 shows a cleaning system holding a suitable amount of cleaningsolution in a tank in the botton of which a transducer is positioned sothat the transducer face on the tank bottom is at the point of maximumpressure. When the tank is filled with solution to a depth which is anodd multiple of a quarter wave length, a standing wave can beestablished. Once a standing wave has been established in the wash tank,conditions for maximum resonance have been met. Under conditions ofmaximum resonance, the energy supplied through the ultrasolic transduceris effective under some conditions to dislodge particles of soil fromthe article to be cleaned.

When ultrasonic waves act parallel to the surface of a metal article. ithas been observed that under proper conditions insoluble scale or soiledparticles are swept away. This usage is shown in U.S. Pat. No.3,529,998. In the practical use of Ultrasonics, where the ultrasolicwaves are acting vertically or radially to the surface of the articles,their particular effect consists of smoothly removing soiled particlesadhering to recesses in the metal surface. in the present invention, thenovel composition plays an essential role in that maximum utilization ofthe ultrasonic energy applied to watch mechanisms in the solutionresults in efficient and quick cleaning.

A further advantage of this invention is that washing in ultrasonicequipment can be carried out under conditions which are relativelyinsensitive to the washing temperature. Previous cleaning compositionssuch as those set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,529,998 have often involvedaqueous cleaning baths containing either harsh ammonium salt solutionsor water soluble detergents which require very high temperatures forefficient cleaning often at or near that of boiling water. Such drasticconditions frequently cause corrosion staining of metal objects beingcleaned, precluding use of such methods for cleaning delicate watchmechanisms. As is taught by US. Pat. No. 3,367,798 available transducerscannot be used at operating temperatures that exceed 150 to 160F. Evencleaning agents of lesser aggressiveness require temperatures of to C.for proper operation, although US. Pat. No 3,529,998 discloses use ofsuch agents with ultrasonic cleaning equipment where an ammonium saltsolution is used as coupling fluid.

in spite of this previously mentioned prior art, watches are stillcleaned by dissembling the movement, part by part, cleaning and rinsingthe parts and then reassembling and oiling the mechanism. As isapparent, this is a time consuming operation as parts are usually lostrequiring the watch maker to spend a significant portion of his timelooking for small parts that he has dropped. It was to overcome theseproblems that the present invention was developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method ofwashing watches in ultrasonic cleaning equipment with maximumutilization of the energy supplied by the ultrasonic waves for theremoval of both solvent-soluble and solvent-insoluble soils on soiledwatch mechanisms at ambient or low temperatures in an efficient andeconomical manner.

This cleaning is accomplished by immersing the watch mechanism to becleaned in a solution consisting essentially of petroleum hydrocarbonsolvent, a nonionic, cationic or anionic emulsifying agent and anhydrousammonia.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODlMENT The present invention, a watchcleaning solution composition, has been found effective when used withultrasonic waves of a desired frequency. The solution comprises acombination of one gallon ofa water-white petroleum liquid hydrocarbonsolvent prepared by straight-run distillation of crude oil anddeodorized under a depolarization process disclosed in US. Pat. No.2,553,624 and additives. A commercial solvent suitable for use in theinvention is "Deodorized Apco l25,"a petroleum solvent manufactured bythe Anderson-Prichard Oil Corporation. To this solvent an additive isadded ranging in amount from one to two ounces of an emulsifying agentof the non-ionic, cationic or anionic classes such as high-molecularweight alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates and alkyl aryl sulfonates,ethylene oxide addition products of high molecular weight, fattyalcohols and fatty acids, high molecular weight acids, amides, amines ormercaptans of which the following are examples: lsooctylphenylployethylene glycols where the number of ethylene clycol units is fromtwo to l2, tetrakis-4-hydroxipropyl-ethylene diamene ester oleic acidsquaternized with dimethyl sulfate, and amine salts of dodecyl benzenesulfonic acid. Another additive of anhydrous ammonia of one ounce orless is added to complete the solution.

In the first example of the invention, 2 ounces of commercial Reetone-Cdry cleaning detergent (sold by American Riverside, Incorporated) andonesixteenth ounce of anhydrous ammonia is added to one gallon of thewater-white petroleum solvent.

A second example of the cleaning composition uses one gallon ofwater-white petroleum solvent to which is added a detergent ranging from1 to 2 ounces weight of commercial lCl 6-71 I" (sold by Atlas ChemicalDivision, lCl America, Inc.) comprising 96% isopropyl amine dodecylbenzene sulfonate and approximately 4% water and anhydrous ammoniahaving a weight less than 1 ounce. In both examples of the invention thesolution was maintained at a temperature ranging from ambient to 150F.

The watch mechanisms were immersed in the aforementioned solutions andthen energized with ultrasonic energy from a standard source, preferablyhaving a wave frequency between 15 and 40 kilohertz, for a suitable timeperiod after which the watch mechanisms were cleaned.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the embodiments of the invention as shown inthe accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:

l. A process for the removal of foreign matter from a watch mechanism,comprising the steps of immersing a watch mechanism in a receptaclecontaining a liquid cleaning solution consisting essentially of a clearhydrocarbon distillate solvent anhydrous ammonia and a member selectedfrom the group consisting of anionic, cationic and non-ionic detergentsand subjecting said solution to ultrasonic waves.

2. A process according to claim I wherein the detergent is isopropylamine dodecyl benzene sulfonate present in an amount between 1 and 2ounces per gallon of solvent.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic waves have afrequency between 15 and 40 kilohertz.

4. A process according to claim 3 wherein said clear hydrocarbondistillate is a water-white liquid petroleum hydrocarbon distillate.

1. A PROCESS FOR THE REMOVAL OF FOREIGN MATTER FROM A WATCH MECHANISM,COMPRISING THE STEPS OF IMMERSING A WATCH MECHANISM IN A RECEPTACLECONTAINING A LIQUID CLEANING SOLUTION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A CLEARHYDROCARBON DISTILLATE SOLVENT ANHYDROUS AMMONIA AND A MEMBER SELECTEDFROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ANIONIC, CATIONIC AND NON-IONIC DETERGENTSAND SUBJECTING SAID SOLUTION TO ULTRASONIC WAVES.
 2. A process accordingto claim 1 wherein the detergent is isopropyl amine dodecyl benzenesulfonate present in an amount between 1 and 2 ounces per gallon ofsolvent.
 3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic waveshave a frequency between 15 and 40 kilohertz.
 4. A process according toclaim 3 wherein said clear hydrocarbon distillate is a water-whiteliquid petroleum hydrocarbon distillate.